Gas-engine.



PATENTED AUG. 7, 1906.

' H. J. SMITH.

GAS ENGINE.

APPLIGATION funn PBB.2, 1903.

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PATENTED AUG. 7, 1906. I H. J. SMITH.

GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION Hulp PEB. z, 190s. 2,SHEETS SHBET 2 d y S fj M Vl/ ,4 0 W Am /R W 'PATENT' OFFICE.

HARRY J\. s MiTH, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK. l GAS-enema.. l

Nc.4 827,759., A

specification of Lenten:V retest. Application lefl February 2, 1908. SerialNo. 141,408.

. Patented amg-1906.5

.- This"invention relatesmoie particularly tol a'two-Jcycle gas-'engine havin 'double-acting cylinders; although some 'of t e features are f asses Ithe rodconnecting the pistons -B Bf.

apglieable to other types of engines'.

' ne" of the objects of this .invention is to Iproduce 'a gas-engine which-is simple and Icheap in construction, in ,whichthe parts -Inay be easily assembled, as well as dismem- .beredf'for inspection and re airs, and -one which is -com' aratively -sma land light for,

the amount o powerdeveloped.

grove the means for regulating the supply of csh gas and. effecting the compression of the sameandto improve the means for exhausting the spent gas. L .The furtherobfects of this invention are to provide a' gas-engine having a. more even crank eifort or turning movement-and fewer p artsand to' lutilize th expansion of gases caused by combustion to'a low limiting-pressure before exhausting. Y

In the accompanyingy drawings, consisting Figs. l2 and 3 are horizontal sections in lines d 3 3, Fig. 1. Figs. 4.and 5 are vertical lorgies-sections in the .correspondingly-num-- Similar letters of reference indicate corre-A sponding parts throughout the 'several views,

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5,' A represent two horizontal working ylinders arranged one behind the other; B B', two pistons reciprocating in the cylinders, respectively; C, a rod connecting the pistons; D, a cross-head sliding on longi- -tudinal ways of the engine-frame d= and connected with the front end of the piston rod' C; a crank-shaft E, journaled in bearings on the frame; and F a pitman connecting the crank of they shaft with the cross-head. Although the two cylinders may be made separate, the same are preferably cast in one continuous tubular shell or barrel, which is closed at its front and rear ends by heads c a and is divided centrally by a transverse vdisk Another object`ofthis invention .is to im-v of two sheets, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectiona elevation of my improved gas-engine.-

or circular partition Gr, formingthetwobe held in place Within the barrel by a driving .fit; but for greater security a 'ositive fasten- .v ing is employed, such as d owe pins or screws g, which extend radially through the barrel' from the outer side thereof and enter the pe- 2, and 4. On the central partof the parti'- tionis arranged 'ar hub g, throughwhich his manner o f constructmg the cylinders is very .simple and ',p'ermits of producing the sured, andl when necessary both pistons can f be removed for inspection or repairsthrough the rear endof lthe cylinder-barrel after detaching the partition, piston-rod, and the rear head, thereby avoiding the necessity of dismounting the cylinders from the engineframe for this purpose. each. cylinder constitutes the firing-space in which the lcharge of explosive fuel is ignited,

working cylinders A'A. vThe Apartition may.

riphery of the partition, as shown in Figs. l,

The outer end ofl the alinement 'of bothcylinders isalways asand the piston-.therein is drivenfinwardly,

with a working stroke, While thev pumping space at the inner end of each cylinder, -to' gether with the piston, serves as a pump for' delivering the fuel -under pressure into the firing-space.y Each of. the cylinders is prorangedV in peripheral rows and equidistantl around the cylinder, and the two sets of fuelports of each cylinder are connected by a peripheral transfer or connecting passage J, surrounding the inner end of the cylinder. The transfer-passages of both cylinders are partition'j, which consists of an' external annular flange or rimforrned .centrally on theA vcylinder-barrel. Fuel 1s supplied to each ofthe transfer-passages by any suitablecontrolling means which permits the fue! to e11- vided at'its inner end with one or more fuel-- pumping ports h, which extend through' the arranged side by side and are separatedv by a IIO ter this passage tl'irough the supplyconduit, but prevents the saine troni leaving the pasi sage through ythe same.

i n r l Lach ot' the cyliuders is provided at its outer end with an exl haust port or passage la, through which the products of thel spent fuel are discharged. This port. is 'controlled by a valve device of any suitable construction.

During the first part of the outward stroke of eachipiston gaseous fuel is drawn from the respective transfer-passage J through the pumpingports h into -the inner end 'of the cylinder, and when the piston has passed outwardly beyond the transferriiig-ports 'L'y fuel is also drawn from the transfer-passage through the latter ports into the samefend of the cylinder until the piston reaches the end of its outward or suction stroke. ,i-issuming that an explosion now occurs of zr'charge of fuel which has previously been delivered into the outer end of the cylinder', the piston as the result will be forced inwardly with a working stroke, i.)uring` this inward move-- ment of the piston theeharge of fuel inf-the 1 inner end of the cylinder and iii the transfer passage J, connected therewith, is compressed. VThen the piston has nearly reached the end of its working stroke, the exhaustyvalve is opened, permitting the spent 'gar-se" to escape from .the cylinder 'at the outer vend thereofz Immediately 'after the exhaustvalve has opened, the piston passes inwardly beyond the fuelftransferring ports t .and uncovers the same; This permits the conn pressed charge of new fuel to escape from the inner end .or pumping-'space of the cylinder through the pumping-ports h into the'transfer-passage J and then pass, together with the gas inthe latter, through the transferring,- portsi into the outer end orvfiiing-space of the cylinder. The gas enters this endof the cyl-` inder adjacent to the outer side of the-piston and moves outwardly .in the same, whereby.

the spent gases are driven through the exhaust at the outer end of the cylinder. After the piston covers the fuel-transferring po'rtsil during the subsequent or'itwa'rd movement of the same the eXhai ist-valye is' closed', 'which causes the piston to compressthe charge ofA4 -fresh fuelconfined in the iiiig-space and at the' Sametime draw another charge of fuel. into vthe pumping-space of the cylinder.

vWhen the piston is at or 'near the end of its outward movement, the compressed charge of new gas. mixture is ignited, whereby the piston is again driven inwardly, andthe cycle of operations is repeated as before described.'

" llVhen an engine having duplex cylinders, as shown, is fully in operation, the exploding miXtu're inthe 'tiringspace of one cylinder moves the piston therein 'inwardly and thel 'piston in the other cylinder outwardly, which 'causes thepistori under llire to compress a .charge on the inner side of the same, while the other piston is drawing a cbm-oe of ,mix-

creased.

ture into the inner end of its cylinder and compr; eine* :1 chargeof mixture in the outer end oiA the same preparatory to igniting the last-mentioned charge anddriving the corresponding pistoni inw-ard with a working stroke, 'the two pistons are thus alternately f operating` a directwonnected electric generator and similar adaptations.

ln order to prevent any of the fresh gras' from eominingling with the spent. gas and es- I (raping througlrtlie exhaust with the latter',

it is nee, .ss-ary to maintain the fresh `das as it enters the firing-space of the cylinder in a substantially solid'body or plug,r which is, in-

terposed between the inner side of the piston and the body of spent gas. This is best accomplished by forming the transferring-fuel portsi'J tangentially in the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 5,' whereby the fresh as is caused to enter thecylinder tangentially through the several ports t' and whi'rl or gyrate in the cylinder about the axis thereof, forming a "vortex of fresh" gas which tends to keep the same in a massl or layer distinct or separate from the body of spent gas. As the volume of fresh gas in the iiring-space of the cylinder gradually increases the same advances toward the outer end of ythe cylinder with a spiral .movement -and displaces or pushes the spent 'gas infront ofthe sain-e outwardly through the exhaust.. This spiral movement of the incomingfresh is promoted by means ofa convex deflecting-face Z, formed on the outer side of the piston, which face also serves to fill the cavity in the 'center of the vortex.,- r

x whereby the spent gas' in front `of the .fresh gas is more edectnally expelled from the eylinder.

edging in the outer 'end of ther-ylindersl each 'of the outer cylinder-'heads is provided with a delecting 'or guideyface m, which is inclined. vor curved convexly from F or the purpose of redvlcing'theA liability of spenty gas that rside ofthe cylinder opposite the 4exhaust toward. the head of the same, as repre sented in F 'l and This detlecting-faee causes the spent gas as' it moves outwardly in y the lcylinder to beturne-d.'or'directedlaterally toward the exhaust, therebyfacilitating the' discharge of thelspent gas and reducing thedeteriorlation of the fresh gas to a minimum, whereby the efficiency of the engine 1s"in.

-- of the engine is obtained.. .If the 1"e,f ;nlatingwith'y a diametrical port s2, which upon turning thevalve may be moved more or less into register With the byass.l `The vregulatingvalve is held in place y a shoulder s3 at one l'of its endsengaging' With a shdulder at the corresponding end of its' valve-seat and. a disk s, securedvto the v,opposite end of the regulating-valve and engaging. with' the shoulder'. at the same end of the v alvefseat,

as shovvlrin Figs. 4 and 5.

Upon turnin the regulating-valve so that the bypas"s is c osed communication between the pumping-spaces of' both cylinders is cut off and the pistons -alternately' 'dra-W .into the cylinders a charge of' fuel of maximum volurne, whereby the greatest compression of the same is effected and the highest efficiency valve is turnedl so that the byass is opened more or less the chargesof fue are'permitted. v to escape from lone cylinder to the other While undergoing compression, .whereby the volume of fuel which is' delivered into, the.'

'liring-spaces of the cylinders is throttled and the output of theengine is reduced. Assuming that the regulating-valveis partly open and that the pistons are moving fronileft to right, as shown in Fig. 1, the fuel contained inthe inner end or pumping-space of the lefthand cylinder 'is partially expelled byy the sto'n therein through the by-pass and drawn y finto.- thepurnping-space of the right-hand linder by the piston therein.- There sult of C fliiis'movement of part of the gas from the 'left to the right cylinder is that the left piston acts upon a reduced volume of gas and subjects the same to less compression', which charge upon being transferred to the' firing-v ls lacc of the left cylinder produces an explosion that is less effective in propelling the left piston. during. the following ,inward stroke. Since the right piston during its outward movement draws a part of the fuel Afrom the left cylinder through the by-pass to the right cylinder, thersuction of this piston on the main fuel-supply and the amount of fuel drawn from the same'. is correspondingly reduced. As the istons move. from right to left a part ofthe uel in the rightl cylinder is transferred to the left cylinder?, resulting in a corresponding reduction inv the effectiveness of the"charge vof fuel whichremains in the .right cylinder and is exploded inthe outer end thereof.

the charges of fuel and varyingthe speed of the engine may 'be effected by any suitable vsage of the saine..

means. As shown in Figs. 4l and 5, this valve is provided at one end witha stern S5, which isconstructed to receive a wrench or other hand-tool for turning the same. r'If desired, this valve may be shifted automatically for throttling the gas-su ply in proportionto the load by connecting t 1e valve with a` governor which is operated in any Well-known manner. Owing to the constant exposure :of the cyl# indffrpartition G.to the coolingv effect the' fresh incoming gaseous mixture, the saine is not liable to become` unduly heatedl and cramp the piston-rod passing through the saine. lf for any reason the joints between the'cylinder-partition land the piston-rod and cylinder-barrel should become leaky, no harm Would resulttherefrom, inasmuch as this nierelyadds to the capacity of the bypass and can be compensated for shutting4 the regulating-valve sufliciently to offset whatever leakage exists.

tional function ofequalizing thefgsuction and compression of the gaseous'inixtures in both cylinders whereby uniform operation of the engine is obtained. l

T T representy water-jackets which surround the periphery ofthe workinvcylinders and communicate with Water-jac 'ets t t in 'the heads ofthe cylinders. Each of the pe- The connection 'between thepumping-spaces of the cylinders 'by means or the by-pass performs the add1- ripheral Water-jackets extends from they outer end of a cylinder to the transfer-:pas- The peripheral waterjackets of both. cylinders are connected by one or more longitudinal circulating-tubes t for permitting the water to pass froml one of the cylinder-jackets to vthe other.. .-,These tubos extend through the transfer-passages of both cylinders and through the partitlon i between the same, as shovnrin Figs. 3, 4, l

and 5. transfer-passages, the uter Wallsof the cyl- .inder Water-jackets rnd the transfer-pas sages are substantially" square or rectangular in crosssection, andv the connecting-tubes, preferably fourlin number,- are 'located in the corners lof these jackets and passages, as shown in Figs.- 4 and 5. u the water-jackets of'b'oth cylinders the Water can flow from one' to the other, thereby avoide ing separate water connections for the-saine. Furthermore, in producing the mold for cast- In order-to avoidv'obstructing the.

By thus connecting IIO ris

mg the .cylinders and their water-jackets the cores whichform'the tubest. serve as means for sustaining the inner endsofthe Waterja'cket cores, which latter otherwise would be Vdiicult `to retain in the 'proper position for casting.

Ignition of the charges of fuel may beef# fected by r igniters of any Vsuitable construction, -Which are arranged'in the firing-spaces of lboth cvlinders'or in passages communi- Cil'ting therewith.

Although the construction shown in' Figs.

exhaust, and a shaft havinga crank operatively connected with the. piston and eccenv 1 to 5 represents the best embodiment ofthe various iinproveinpntssoine of features may-be varied without departing from the essence of my invention. vFor instance, as `shown in Fig. 6, no by-pass and regulatingby thesuction ofthe pistons. i

l claim as my iii-vention'f 1. A gas-engine comprising a cylinder, a

piston reciprocating in the same7 'said cylin- -.der ha'vingafuel-port at one end, an exhaustport at its op osite end and a transfer-port connectedwit I the fuel-port and arranged to be uncovered, by the piston at. the end oi its `forward stroke, a fuel-valve controlling thefuel-supply', an exhaust-valve controllingthe exhaust, and an actuating mechanism forfthe l, ing. the operation of thel same, substantially as exhaust-valve constructed to permit ofvaryset forth. 2. A gas-'engine'comprisinga cylind,er, a

ypiston reciprocating in the same, said cylinder having a Juel-port at one end, an exhaust- 'port at its o connected wit the fuel-port and arranged tol f be uncovered'by the piston at the end of its forward stroke, a'uel-valve controlling the fuel-supply,an exhaust-valve controlling the trios operatively connected with :said fuel .and Eexhaust valves, substantially as set forth.

beuncovered by lthe piston at the en d of its forward stroke, a reciprocating vfuel-valve controlling-the fuel-supply, a reciprocating (Xhailst-valve controlling the exhaust and mounted on a guide-rod, a spriiig'engaginga collar onthe rod and'operating to close the exhaust-valve, a tappet constructed to engage said collar for opening they exhaust- 'valve, a Aiecil'irocating head on which said tappet is adjustably" mounted, and a crankshaltliaving eccentrics operatively connr-ctod with the fuel-valve 'and'said head,

substant ally as set forth.

l. A gas-engine coi'nprising a cylinder and a piston, smid cylinder having an exhaustport at vontA vlond, a luz-l-port at its op osite end` and a transfer-port connected wit'- said fuel-portland' opening tangeiitially into the firing-space o i' 'the cylinder immediately in 'rear of the piston at the. end of its' working 4cylinder provided at one end with a fuel-sup-l `osite endand atransfer-port substantially' as set forth.

, i ,-iring-space an 3; A gas-engine comprising [a cylinder, a

stroke, and said piston having. a convex face on itsl firingl side, whereby the fuel entering the cylinder tangentially -and striking the convex face of the piston is caused to whirl about the axis of the cylinder and move spirally toward' the exhaust for expelling the spent gas, substantially as set` fort 5. ln a .gas-engine, the combination ofa ply, an exhaust-port on one side of its opposite end and a delecting-face W ch extends l obliquely from the side ofthe cy inder opposite the exhaust to the Vadjacent head of the cylinder, anda piston arranged in the saine, substantially as set forthg, y

6. A gasengine coni r' 'ng a barrel having a continuons cylin rical bore, a stationary circular artition secured centrally in the barrel and ividing the same into two-cylinders and rovided with a central opening, heads app ied to opposite endsfof' the cylinders, pistons arranged in the cylinders and dividing. each of the latter into an inner umping-cha'rnber and an outer firing-charner, a rod connecting said pistons andvpassing through the opening of said partition," exhaustvalves controlling said exhaust-ports,

and an actuatingmechanisrn for" said -fexhaust-valves constructed to permit of varying4 the' operation thereof, each of said cylin- 95 dershaving a fuel-port at1 its inner end, an lexhaust-portSat its outer end, and a transfer port connected I'with the uelort yand arranged to be. uncovered by t e respective iston .at the end of its inward movement, roo

7. a gasengine, the combination of two opposing cylinders each-having a pumpingspace and uel- Orts at its inner end Vand a aneXhaust-portat its outer x05 end, a valve-seat connected at opposite ends 'th the uel-ports'of both cylinders and provided between. its endswith .a fuel-supply ".port, a slide-valve engaging with said seat and voperating to place sadfsupplyort alno ternately in communication with t e fuelportsjofthe cylinders, and pistons arranged in the cylinders, 'substantially as set Jforth.

8.v In a gas-engine, the combination of two y lopposing cylinders, each having a pumping- 1 I 5 space and uel-por'ts-at 'its inner end and a firing-'space andan'e'xhaiist-port at 'its outer' end, avalvfe-seat'connected at opposite. ends with the fuel-portsol both cylinders andl provided between its ends with a fuel-supply'j i z' port, aslide-valvey engagin with said seat and operating-.to place sai. supply-port alternately' in communication with the-fuelports of the cylinders,l pistons arranged inthe' cylinders, a crank-shaft connected-:with the 125.

pistons,V andan 'eccentricar'rangedon said shaft and: 'operatively'connected with said slide-valve, substantially 'as set forth.

9, A gas-en 'ine comprising twoopposin A i3o cylinders each aving aport, a valve applic eis to each of'said ports and provided with a rod; dahegrod's of both valves rojecting .toward each-l other and having col ars, a-spring bearing against eaclof-said' collars and operating receiving said? rods and coperating with said jcollars fior'openin said valves, a lreciprocatln'g .headnpon willich saidtappets -are adjustably'- mounted, andfpistonsarran ed in -said cylinders','substantially as set fort 1.

l;l 'In a gas-engine, the combination of two opposing cylinders each of whichhas a pumpin -sp'a-ce and a fuel-supply atjts inner yendan -a firing-.space and an exhaust-port y-ders, substantiallyas set forth,

11.2111 a gas-engine, 'the combination of fftwopposirig-cylinders each f which has a hprac@ and a fuel-supply at its inner end and af ,Ying-space and an exhaustort at its( vouter end, an' exhaust-valve app ied .to each exhaustcrt `-and provided with an -in- 'mrdly-extendli) acollar one-said rod for closing the valve, tap- Vpets of ,tubular form receiving the rods of oth valves and cooperating with the collarsl thereon for opening the valves, a reciprocat- :ing head upon which said tappets are adjustablymounted,"pistons arranged in the cylinders, 'a crank-shaft connected with the pistonsand o erative connections between ",forth.

said shaft an head, substantially as set 12.4 a" gas-engine, the-combination lof two cylinders eachl having a pumping-space at one 'of its endsand a firing-space at its 0ppos1te-- end, ahy-pass: connecting the pump- -ring-spacesof both cylinders, a valve for conat one its ends and a firing-space at its op- '.trollin {Said-'by-pass, and Aistons arranged in the cy inders; substantially as set forth.

' 513. 'In agas-engin'e, .the combination of two cylinders each/having a pumping-space fatiits outerend, anv exhaust-valve applied to.'

ng rod aspring engaging with -posit'e end, by-pass connecting the pumpingspaces of both cylindersl and containing a cyllndrical seat, a rotary valve applied to said seat'and provided .with a diametri-cal port,

4and pistons arranged in the cylinders, substantially as set forth.

'14. ln a gas-engine, the combination of two opposing cylinde'rs,each ha`ving a pumping-space and fuel-pumping ports at its inner end7 'a iring-space and an exhaust; port at its outer end, fuel-transferring ports arranged between its'endsf, and a transfer-pas- I sage connecting the' pumping and transfer-1,

ring ports, a by-pass connecting the transfertrolling said by-pas's, and pistonsarranged in the cylinders, .substantially as set forth.

15. In a gas-engine7 the combination of two opposing cylinders each having a pumping-space and fuel-ports at its` :inner end, a firing-space and an exhaust at jitssouter end,

and a passage extending around the innerl part of the cylinder and connecting its fuelports, a Water-jacket extending around the outer part of each cylinder, a Water-circulatin tube connecting thewater-jacketslof both cy inders and extending through the transfer-passages of the same, andfpistons arranged in said cylinders, substantially as set fort `16. Ina gas-engine, the combination of. two opposing cylinders each havingvaxpumping-space and fuel-ports at its inner end,a- .firing-space and an exhaust at its outer end,

anda passage for connecting the fuel-ports extending around the inner part of the cylinder and having an outer wall of rectangular form, a Water-jacket extending -around the outer part of -each cylinder, longitudinal water-circulating tubes connecting the water jackets of both cylinders and varranged in the corners of the transfer-passages, and pistons .arranged 1n the cylinde's, ,substantially as set forth.

- Witness my hand this th day of January, 1903. l

e HARRY J. SMITH. f Witnesses I THEQL. Pori?, e EMMAQl M.' GRAHAM.

6s passages Ofiboth Cylinders; Valve for con- 

